Time to Focus on Bing: Why You Should Pay Attention
Bing is gaining traction thanks to ChatGPT utilizing its search engine index and platform. The growth of Bing’s advertising program, Microsoft Advertising, has been noted to outperform Google’s ads by some companies.
It’s time to take notice of Bing and start by verifying your site using Bing’s Webmaster Tools.
Webmaster Tools
Verification
Verify your site by placing an XML file in the root directory, adding a meta tag to the home page, or creating a CNAME record to your domain name server.
Once verified, give Bing about 24 hours to collect data and then access Webmaster Tools, similar to Google’s Search Console.
Bing Webmaster Tools provides three ways to verify a site.
Performance
This section displays queries driving impressions and clicks for your domain on Bing, along with other relevant performance metrics.
Data can be filtered and exported by date range, country, and device type.
Site Explorer
Site Explorer showcases your site’s structure through Bing’s crawlers, allowing for indexing requests and performance stats.
Site Explorer shows the structure of a site as experienced by Bing’s crawlers.
URL Inspection
This tool examines URLs on your site to ensure Bing can crawl and index them, offering insights to enhance search performance.
Sitemaps
Similar to Search Console, Webmaster Tools allow the submission of XML sitemaps for faster discovery and crawling.
IndexNow
This feature enables quick indexation requests for URLs and supports third-party indexing integrations.
Backlinks
View a report listing links to your site, with details on the linking page and anchor text.
Free Ranking Tools
Access free tools like “Robots.txt tester” for error reporting and “Keyword research” for keyword ideas and insights.
AI Optimized
Bing Webmaster Tools, though basic, offer valuable features to enhance indexation and search performance, contributing to AI optimization for tools like ChatGPT and Copilot.
FAQs
1. Why should I pay attention to Bing?
Bing’s advertising program and search engine index have shown promising results, making it a viable platform for businesses.
2. How do I verify my site on Bing’s Webmaster Tools?
You can verify your site by placing an XML file, adding a meta tag, or creating a CNAME record on your domain name server.
3. What insights can I gain from Bing’s Webmaster Tools?
You can track performance metrics, site structure, URL indexing, backlinks, and utilize free ranking tools for optimization.
4. How can Bing Webmaster Tools contribute to AI optimization?
Features like sitemaps and IndexNow can increase the chances of being cited by AI assistants like ChatGPT and Copilot.
5. Are Bing’s Webmaster Tools free to use?
Yes, Bing Webmaster Tools are free to use, making them accessible for website owners looking to improve their search presence.
